7/21/2017

Are you currently looking to replace the bumper on your truck because of a little rust, or some minor dent or ding? If so, take 5 minutes and read this. Trust me, It could save you hours and hundreds of dollars.

If you have recently gotten a dent in your bumper or it is starting to rust, you’ve probably been searching casually online for options to get your bumper repaired or replaced. You’ve probably found out that repairing chrome is very difficult and will not leave you with a perfect result, so you have most likely already ditched that idea, which leaves you with two options, replace, or cover. We’ll talk replacement first, and then bumper covers.

Weighing the Options

Shopping around, I searched for a replacement front bumper for a 2015 Silverado. Here are two options that I found.

OPTION 1

OPTION 2

Between these two options there is almost a $300 price gap. Why?

The first thing you need to look at is quality. Option 2 is a genuine part. That entitles it to a better warranty and guarantees with fitment. Option 1 didn’t set off any alarms that it might be a cheap knock-off. The reviews I saw were mostly positive. However, that is something to be aware of. All the effort of getting the bumper replaced will be wasted if the part rusts after your first winter.

The second thing to keep in mind is the finish on the part. Option 1 is a primed bumper. That means that it is unfinished. You will need to either have the bumper painted or chromed to get it looking good. Lack of finishing will keep the price down, but means you will have to pay upwards of $100 to a good paint shop. That’s just something to keep in mind when you are shopping price. Option 2 states that they will paint the bumper whatever OEM color you need which is another reason for the higher price.

The Kicker - Installing Your New Bumper

Now, as any of you that have already replaced a bumper know, purchasing your bumper and having it painted are the easy parts. Installation is the most difficult part of any bumper swap. On the bumper I selected, a professional installation will cost me anywhere from $500-$700 according to quotes that I could find online. That means that just getting the bumper installed could cost me more than buying the entire part in the first place. Now you might be thinking, “well then I’ll just do it myself.” Although that was also my first thought, you need consider why professional installations are so expensive. IT IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT!

​Not only is it very difficult and time consuming, in some cases it is practically impossible. On the ‘14-‘18 GM rear bumpers, in most cases you need to actually lift off the truck bed to be able to remove the rear bumper. Most DIYers don’t have that kind of machinery in their garage at home.

The Summation

At the end of this process you will have a great looking brand new bumper, and over a grand less in the bank. It’s a good option, but its drawbacks are pretty obvious; It is ridiculously expensive and time consuming. Most people would rather live with that little dent or rust than fork over the dough to make their truck look flawless again. That’s why almost every truck you see on the road has some sort of visible damage on the bumper.

Here's the idea: Get around the most expensive part of replacing a bumper (the part, and installation), by not having the customer need to replace their bumper. Think about it. Rust and dings don't ruin your bumper. They just ruin the way it looks. In that case, what you need isn't to replace the whole thing. What you need is to make your bumper look great again. If you get some scratches on your new phone, you don't throw the thing out and get a new one. You put a sleek looking case on it. Or one of those skins that makes your phone look like its made from rich mahogany... if you're into that sort of thing.

​It's the same principle with BumperShellz. Dings and rust are covered up to make your bumper look brand new. ​They are sleek ABS covers that install right over your bumper. Installation is easy, so no body shop is required. You can choose your exact model, and then choose from the colors provided, or select a "paintable" version that you can then have color matched to your truck's body color or whatever you want at your local paint shop.

Now, obviously in some cases, these are not going to work for you. If your bumper has been mangled, then covers are not going to be able to fit. In that case, you are going to have to spring for a replacement. But if you're just looking for a way to get rid of that annoying ding, rust spot, or are just sick of your chrome. This just might be a better option for you.

Click on the button below to see if we have BumperShellz for your truck. If we don't, send us a note. We'd be happy to let you know when we plan on having them in stock.